When Professor Kingsfield uncharacteristically fails to appear to teach his contracts class, he leaves his students to prepare for the upcoming examination without the benefit of a review. Meanwhile, Mrs. Whitney, a potential benefactress to the Law School, pays an unexpected visit to the campus, and is surprised to learn of Kingsfield's absence. She finds two students in a heated argument and voices her complaints to the Dean. Meanwhile, Kingsfield is relaxing in a park.